Kirui Wins SEC Cross Country Championship

BATON ROUGE, La. Ole Miss freshman Barnabas Kirui won the SEC men’s cross country championship on Saturday at Highland Road Park. Kirui won the 8K race, hosted by Louisiana State, in a time of 23:53.24. It marked the first individual cross country champion for Ole Miss since Pablo Sierra in 1992.

“I feel so great,” said Kirui, a native of Kenya. “If there’s one thing I’ve longed for, it’s to hear that somebody from Ole Miss wins the SEC because I find that to be a pride for my school, just winning and being the fastest. I’ve always been telling my teammates that is one thing I long for is to hear the words and the winner from Ole Miss,’ and I’m glad I heard that today.”

“I am so proud of Barnabas,” said Ole Miss head coach Joe Walker. “I think we were the only people who thought he had a chance, but he came here to win and that’s what he did. He worked very hard and for him to win the SEC as a freshman is pretty special and is an indication of what he can do.  He has really made a lot of progress and ran a great race today.”

“I didn’t expect to be that far in the lead the last two miles,” said Kirui. “I was really expecting to take the lead from one and a half miles. When I made that move, it worked out, so I decided just to go.”

Kirui’s victory helped the Rebel men finish eighth in the team standing with 222 points. Also running for the Ole Miss men were Gabriel Ngwiri (35^th, 25:31.66), Kyle Lewis (43^rd, 25:45.11), Seth Conerly (85^th, 27:46.92), Devin Darnall (92^nd, 29:01.13), Bryce McKay (93^rd, 29:12.03) and Chad Berry (95^th, 29:48.00).

Arkansas won the men’s team title with a total of 21 points.

Samantha Mazer led the Rebel women with a time of 22:54.35 to finish 70^th overall. Also running for the Ole Miss women were Anna Adams (81^st, 23:36.86), Shannon Chandler (86^th, 23:45.75), Cassie Kipper (88^th, 23:48.84), Lindsay Doucett (94^th, 24:03.97), Micah Pioreck (102^nd, 24:21.28), Kirby Patterson (107^th, 25:30.13) and Carolyn Hill (108^th, 26:49.16). The Lady Rebels finished 12^th in the team standings with a  total of 368 points.

Brooke Upshaw, of Arkansas, won the women’s individual title with a time of 20:14.90 and the Lady Razorbacks also took home the team title with a total of 17 points.

Agate

Ole Miss Men’s Results

Team

8. Ole Miss 222

Individual

1. Barnabas Kirui 23:53.24

35. Gabriel Ngwiri - 25:31.66

43. Kyle Lewis - 25:45.11

85. Seth Conerly - 27:46.92

92. Devin Darnall - 29:01.13

93. Bryce McKay - 29:12.03

95. Chad Berry - 29:48.00

Ole Miss Women’s Results

Team

12. Ole Miss 368

Individual

70. Samantha Mazer - 22:54.35

81. Anna Adams - 23:36.86

86. Shannon Chandler - 23:45.75

88. Cassie Kipper - 23:48.84

94. Lindsay Doucett - 24:03.97

102. Micah Pioreck - 24:21.28

107. Kirby Patterson - 25:30.13

108. Carolyn Hill - 26:49.16

The University of Mississippi Athletics

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